Metal-lath-forming machine.



No. 768,946. I PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.'

J. F. MALONE.

METAL LATH FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1904. v

' N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig. I.

Witnesses. Inventor. 7 B Q @714 M m METAL LATH FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig. 2.

Witnesses.

w Inventor. K 2 s H 4 l as By No. 768,946. PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904. J. P.MALONE. METAL LATH FORMING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 16, 1904. 7 N0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

war]??? H g B fi). Q. Attorney.

11 1M Ill Inventor;

No. 768,946. PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

J. F. MA

METAL LATH FORM MACHINE.

PPPPPPPPPPPP 1pm) JAN.16, 1904.

Witnesses. 8

o. away PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

J. F. MALONE.

METAL LATH FORMING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN.16, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6' N0 MODEL.

inventor.

Attorney EEMEMWMEE WEE? r, R @W cm 5 m N a UNITED ST TES Patented August30, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. MALONE, OF BUFFALO, NEIN YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BUFFALO FIRE PROOFLATH COMPANY, OF BUF OF NEI/V YORK.

FALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION METAL-LATH-FORIVIING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,946, dated August30, 1904,

Application filed January 16, 1904. Serial No. 189,280. (No model.) I

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN F. MALONE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal-Lath-FormingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved metallath-forming machine; and ithas for its object the production of metal lath of a uniform shape,size, and regularity.

The machine comprises several sets of mech anisms, among which are thefollowing: corrugating mechanism, lath-forming mechanism, and trimmingmechanisms and which are arranged in longitudinal alinement with eachother, so that the lath will pass accurately from one mechanism toanother and be of regular formation and are operated at substantiallyuniform speed to insure proper feeding of the material and resultinglath through all of the necessary mechanisms.

Vhile the above sets of mechanisms are included in the preferredconstruction of my machine, I wish it understood that my invention isnot necessarily limited to sets of mechanisms arranged or operated inthe chronological order or the precise manner above set forth orembodying all of the above or to the number of mechanisms thereinstated, as the same is simply set forth in this brief manner forconvenience in describing the various elements or mechanisms that makeup or constitute what I style the preferred type of my improved machine,the invention, broadly stated, embodying successively arrangedmechanisms for forming a blank into a lath which are in longitudinalalinement, so as to accurately form and finish a lath.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction of severalof the above-enumerated mechanisms, which will be fully and clearlyhereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end elevation of theimproved machine. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the improved machine. Fig. 3is a central vertical section through the machine on line a a, Fig. 1.Fig. A is a transverse section through the 5 machine on line 5 b, Fig.2, the lower portion of the machine-frame being omitted. Fig. 5 is anenlarged transverse section through the forming mechanism on line 0 0,Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section through the formingmechanism on. line (Z (Z, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a detached edge View of oneof the toothed forming-rings. Fig. 8 is a section through one of thetoothed forming-rings on line 66, Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a detached edge Viewof one of the forming-rings provided with two annular beads or ridges.Fig. 10 is a section on line ff, Fig. 5, through one of theforming-rings shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11

' trimming mechanism on line i 2', Fig. 12. Fig. 7

1 1 is a detached plan View of the guide-plate and bearing for the uppertrimming-shaft.

In referring to the drawings for the details of construction of thepreferred type therein shown like numerals designate like parts.

In the adaptation of the invention shown in the drawings it consists ofthree practically independent mechanisms for corrugating, forming, andtrimming, which are in longitudinal alinement and are operated at thesame 80 rate of speed. I

The frame of the machine consists of two end members, each of which'hastwo legs 1, a top cross-piece 2, and a bottom cross-piece 3, twolongitudinallyrextending side members 4, 5 which are secured to theupper portion of the legs 1 by bolts 5, and a top member or plate whichis formed in two portions 6 and 7 to provide room for the corrugatingand lathforming mechanisms. The bottom cross- 9 pieces 3 of the endmembers are connected by a wooden plank 8, wh1ch 1s secured to thecrosspieces 3 between upwardly-extending lugs. (See Fig. 1.) Twolongitudinally-extending tie-rods 9 are also secured to the lowerportion of the legs 1 by nuts 10, which screw upon the ends of the rods9. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) The plank 8 and tie-rods 9 serve to strengthenthe lower portion of the machine-frame.

A lower longitudinally-extendiug drivingshaft 11 is supported near itsends by bearings 12, which are mounted upon and secured to each end ofof the plank8 by bolts 13. These bolts 13 also serve to secure the plank8 to the cross-pieces 3. The shaft 11 has a pulley 14 mounted upon oneend and a gear-wheel 15 mounted upon its opposite end. (See Figs. 1 and3.)

The gear-wheel 15 meshes witha large gearwheel 16, mounted on the outerextremity of one end of a longitudinally-extending shaft 17, upon whichis mounted the lower lathforming mechanisms or rings and which isarranged in approximately a central position in the machine. Thegear-wheel 16 constitutes the main driven gear-Wheel and serves totransmit motion from the driving-shaft to all of the various mechanisms.

The shaft 17 has a gear-wheel 18 mounted on the same end as thegear-wheel 16 and just interior to said gear-wheel, which meshes with apinion 19, mounted on one projecting end of an upperlongitudinally-extending shaft 20. This shaft 20 is arranged diagonallyabove the shaft 17 and is supported in bearings 21, formed in the topsurface of two transverselyextending members 22, which are secured bybolts 23 to the top cross-pieces 2 of the end frame members. (See Figs.2 and 4.) The shaft 20 has a gear-wheel 24 mounted on its opposite end,which meshes with a similar gearwheel 25 of equal'size mounted on theend of a lower longitudinally-extending shaft 26, which is verticallybeneath the shaft 20. This lower shaft 26 is supported in bearings 27,secured to the bottom surface of the upper crosspieces 2 of the endframe members. (See Figs. 1, 3, and 4.) The upper and lower shafts 20and 26 have upper and lower corrugating-rollers 28 and 29 securedthereto by keys 30. (See Fig. 11.) The peripheral configuration of thesecorrugating-rollers is peculiar, as shown in Fig. 11, each roller beingprovided with a series of annular grooves 31 and circular enlargementsor ridges 32, which are arranged alternately in pairs-that is, two ofthe grooves 31, then two of the ridges 32, and so on. The ridges 32 ofone roller are arranged to fit and engage in the grooves of the otherroller, so that the sheet from which the lath is formed has longitudinalgrooves and raised longitudinal ribs pressed therein in alternate pairs.These corrugating-rollers constitute what I term the preliminarycorrugatmg mechanism.

to the driving-shaft 11,) an upper shaft 33, i

and a series of toothed rings 34 and ribbed rings 35, mounted on saidshafts. These rings are arranged in alternate order with each toothedring 34 on one shaft opposed to a ribbed ring 35 on the other shaft.

The toothed rings 34 are each provided with two longitudinal grooves 36in their outer or peripheral surface, as shown in 2, 3, and 7, and theribbed rings with two longitudinal peripheral ribs 37, as shown in Figs.2, 3, 9, and 10, which engage in the grooves 36, and these rings are soarranged on the shafts and the grooves 31 and ridges 32 on thecorrugating-rollers so formed that they are in longitudinal alinement,whereby the corrugated sheet as it leaves the corrugating-rollers passesbetween the lath-forming rollers with the corrugations or ribs exactlyin position with, the grooves 36 and ribs 37.

The rings 34 and 35 are secured to the shafts 17 and 33 by feathers 38and 39, (shown in Fig. 6,) and are additionally fastened in place by aseries of tie rods or bolts 40, which pass through the rings at variouspoints around the center and are fitted with lock-nuts 41 on their ends.(See Fig. 3.) End plates 42 are preferably interposed between the end.rings and the lock-nuts, as shown in said Fig. 3.

One end of both of the shafts 17 and 33 project beyond the frame, andtwo intermeshing gear-wheels 43 and 44 of equal size are mountedthereon, so that the shafts rotate at a uniform speed. WVhile theopposite end of the upper shaft 33 terminates at the outer surface ofthe side frame member, the lower shaft extends or projects on that sidesufliciently to permit the inner gear-wheel 18 and the outer gear-wheel16 to be mounted thereon.

After the lath-sheet has been corrugated by the corrugating-rollers andpressed. into the shape of a metal. lath by the lath-forming rollers itcomes to the trimming mechanism, where the edges are trimmed off tofinish the lath'.

The trimming mechanism consists of two shafts 45 and 46, the ends ofwhich are journaled in bearing-boxes 47, and cutting-disks or circularblades 48 and 49, mounted on the shafts so as to be longitudinallyadjustable thereon. The upper and lower cutting-disks 48 and 49 aremounted in opposed position on the shafts 45 and 46, with their cuttingedges overlapping each other, as shown in Fig. 13, and the shafts arescrew-threaded to provide for the longitudinal adjustment of the disks,which screw thereon and are locked in place by lock-nuts 50.

rollers.

A horizontal guide-plate is'arranged between the shafts a5 and L6 and iscut away in places to allow for the adjustment of the cutting-disks Thisguide-plate has an elongated body 51, which is provided near each endwith a longitudinal rectangular slot or opening 52 for the passage ofthe upper disks &8, .the side walls of the slots being beveled, as shownat 53 in Fig. 13, and with an inwardly-extending toothed rack 5a, whichfits closely to the upper lath-formingroller. A central bearing-box 55is also mounted on the body 51, in which the middle portion of the uppershaft L5 is journaled, as shown in Fig. 2. V

The member 7 of the top plate forms a lower guide-plate parallel withthe upper guideplate, which is provided with rectangular slots 56 forthe passage of the lower cutting- (liSliS 49, as shown in Fig. 12. Themember 7 is also provided with a central bearing-box 57, in which themiddle portion of the lower shaft &6 is journaled, and aninwardly-extending toothed rack 58, which fits closely to the lowerlath-forming roller.

The teeth of the toothed racks and the inner wall of the spaces betweenthe teeth .are beveled or on a slant, as shown at 59, 60, 61, and 62 inFig. 13, so that the racks can be fitted comparatively near to all partsof the toothed and ribbed rings 34 and 35, and thus positively guide thelath-sheet from lilllfllih".

forming rollers to the trimming mechanism.

The shafts 4:5 and 46 project at one end beyond the frame and areconnected at said ends, so as to rotate at uniform speed, byintermeshing gear-wheels 63 and 64, of equal size, which are mounted onsaid projecting shaft ends. The opposite end of the upper shaft 45projects beyond the opposite side of the frame and has a pinion 65secured thereon by a key 66, which meshes with the inner gearwheel 18.

Two diagonally-extending guide-plates 67 and 68 are placed between thecorrugatingrollers 28 and 29 and the lath-forming rollers. Theseguide-plates 6'7 and 68 are placed so as to guide the metal sheet fromthe corrugating-rollers directly between the lath-forming (See Fig. 4.)Each of the plates 67 and 68 is provided with a lug 69, through which abolt 70 is passed to. secure the plates to the machine frame. The edgesof the plates nearest the lath-forming rollers are toothed similarly tothe inner edges of the plates? and 51, so as to fit closely to thelathforming rollers and prevent the metal sheet from passing around thesaid rollers.

The great advantages of the preferred type of this machine are that itcombines the operations of the lath forming and trimming mechanisms inone machine, in which they are arranged in longitudinal alinement,thereby enabling the lath sheet to be accurately trimmed afterformation, that the lath-sheet is both preliminarily corrugated andflattened by the machine before being pressed into lath shape, and thatthe feed of the lath-sheet through the several sets of mechanisms isuniform owing to the factthat all of the mechanisms are drivenat thesame speed..

I claim as my invention 1. In a machine of the class described,corrugating-rollers having circumferential peripheral ridges and groovesin alternate pairs and lath-forming rollers in the rear of thecorrugating-rollers; at least one of said rollers having teeth providedwith circumferential grooves and at least another of said rollers havingcircumferential ridges engaging in said grooves, said ridges and groovesbeing in like pairs and in exact interfitting longitudinal alinementtherewith.

2. In a machine of the class described, corrugatingrolle rs having aplurality of grooves and lath forming rollers having portions thereofprovided with grooves in alinement with the grooves in thecorrugating-rollers.

3. In a machine of the class described, corrugating-rollers having aplurality of interfitting grooves and ridges arranged inalternately-extending pairs and lath-forming rollers having portionsthereof provided with similar grooves and ridges in likealternatelyextending pairs and in alinement with the grooves in thecorrugating-rollers.

t. In a machine of the class described, corrugating-rollers having aplurality of grooves and ridges formed thereon in alternate pairs andlath-forming rollers in the rear of the corrugating-rollers havingportions of their peripheries provided with grooves and ribs inalternation and in exact alinement with the gnooves and ridges of thecorrugating-rollers.

5. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of lath-formingrollers having teeth, trimming mechanism including two horizontal shaftsand cutting-disks adjustably mounted on said shafts, and two horizontalguideplates between the shafts having slots for the passage of thecutting-disks.

6. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of lath-formingrollers having teeth, trimming mechanism including two horizontal shaftsand cutting-disks adj ustably mounted on said shafts, and two horizontalguideplates between the shafts having slots for the passage of thecutting-disks and sufficiently long to allow for the adjustment of saiddisks.

7. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of lath-formingrollers having teeth, trimming mechanism including two horizontal shaftsand cutting-disks adjustably mounted on said shafts, and two horizontalguideplates between the shafts having slots for the IIO passage of thecutting-disks and a central bearing in which the upper portion of one ofthe shafts is journalecl.

8. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of lath-formingrollers having teeth, trimming mechanism including two horizontal shaftsand cutting-disks acljustahly inonnted on said shafts, and twohorizontal guideplates between the shafts having slots for the passageof the cutting-disks and projecting IO toothed racks shaped to litclosely to the lathforming rollers.

JOHN F. MALONE. Vitnesses:

L. M. SANGs'LnR, GEO. A. NEUBAUER.

